The finest surviving palace of Spain's taifa era — an 11th-century Islamic fortress-palace built between 1065 and 1081, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later a residence of the Catholic Monarchs, who added a Gothic upper palace, it has been the seat of the Aragonese parliament since 1987. Its highlights are the intimate oratory with its carved mihrab and the golden coffered ceiling of the Throne Room — the high-water mark of Hispano-Muslim architecture in the north.
Location
Centro, Zaragoza
Map
Insider Intel
The oratory (mosque) with its mihrab and the golden Throne Room ceiling — the two spaces that make the Aljafería unmissable. The carved plasterwork throughout is extraordinary.
Book a daytime visit; as a working parliament building, access is by timed entry, so check opening times and any sitting-day closures ahead.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the seat of the Cortes de Aragón — visiting hours can be affected by parliamentary sessions, so confirm before going. West of the centre, walkable or a short tram ride.